Author: Sam Hartridge

In a 4:3 decision, the High Court handed down judgement today in Hughes v R. In doing so it resolved a divergence between the VSCA and the NSWCCA regarding how to determine whether tendency evidence has significant probative value.

The NSW Parliament is in the process of legislating to criminalise the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The new offences follow in the footsteps of, but goes further than, similar laws in South Australia and Victoria – which are both limited to distribution and do not provide the same level of detail with regard to important definitional issues, such as what constitutes consent.

The NSW AG today announced a number of wide-ranging reforms to the criminal justice system. While the legislation has not yet been released, it is clear that these reforms will have a major impact on the practice of criminal law in NSW.

The applicant was found in possession of a USB with photos of a young girl at Sydney airport.

This matter was an application to the Supreme Court for review of a local court conviction under Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 91H(2) – possess child abuse material. The offender applied for leave to appeal to the District Court, which was denied. So he applied the Supreme Court under s 78 of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001.